The number two leader of the " North African Islamic Al Qaida" Samir Saioud, alias Samir Moussaab, was killed Thursday in the Boumerdes region, some 50 km to the east of Algeria's capital Algiers, according to police sources.

The ring leader was killed during skirmishes with an Algerian army patrol, which is currently conducting security operations in the region, according to the source quoted by the Algerian News Agency (APS).

An automatic pistol was recovered by the security forces, said the report.

"North African Islamic Al Qaida," the former Salafist Group for Call and Combat, claimed responsibility for the two car bomb attacks that occurred on April 11 in Algiers, one of which was targeting the Government Palace, killing 30 people and injuring 220 others, according to official casualty figure.